By ROBERT CESSNAThe defensive coordinator's position on the Texas A&M football staff was filled Thursday with the addition of Tim DeRuyter, but there was no announcement about defensive line coach or if there would be other staff changes.
DeRuyter, who also will have the title of assistant head coach, replaces Joe Kines who retired on Dec. 30. DeRuyter had been Air Force's defensive coordinator the last three seasons.
The 47-year-old emerged as the front-runner over Boise State's Justin Wilcox early this week, but DeRuyter wasn't officially hired until the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved the hiring and terms of the contract late Thursday afternoon. By then, Air Force had removed DeRuyter's bio from its Web site.
A&M's Regents approved a three-year contract for DeRuyter, who will be paid $400,000 the first year, then $425,000 and $450,000 -- the most of the assistants. He was making $205,000 at Air Force.
"After an extensive process, it became very apparent that Tim is the right fit for Texas A&M," said A&M head coach Mike Sherman in a release. "He would not leave the Air Force Academy except for a special place. He has a great appreciation for the history, the traditions and the values of Texas A&M."
DeRuyter, who played at the academy, was hired to duplicate what he performed at Colorado Springs, Colo. Air Force was 78th in total defense the year before he arrived but rose to 11th last season.
A&M was 114th in 2008 and 105th last season, the first time in school history it had back-to-back rankings lower than 100. The Aggies had a dozen Top 10 finishes from 1974-2001 with a No. 1 rating in 1975 and '91.
"This is a great opportunity for me," DeRuyter said. "As a defensive player at Air Force and being a defensive coach, I have tried to emulate the Wrecking Crew style that [former head coach] R.C. Slocum had in place at A&M. As a defense, we like to dictate to the offense and put them back on their heels."
Air Force forced 34 turnovers last season, which ranked fifth in the country.
That's the style A&M had when Sherman was the program's offensive line coach.
"I like his aggressive, attacking style of defense," Sherman said. "He has a great history of success and has shown great ability to teach and to lead young men."
DeRuyter also was defensive coordinator at Ohio University (2002-04) and Nevada (2005-06). The California native graduated from Air Force in 1985, then served 7 1/2 years of active duty. He returned to the academy from 1991-94 as a full-time military coach working with the varsity and JV. He also was Navy's secondary coach from 1999-2001.
Even by adding DeRuyter, A&M is short a defensive line coach because it lost Buddy Wyatt on Jan. 5 to Kansas. DeRuyter inherits a pair of defensive backs coaches in Van Malone and Charles McMillian.
DeRuyter was in charge of Air Force's safeties. He also had secondary coach duties at Nevada and Ohio while serving as defensive coordinator.
Kines, who agreed to stay over during the transition, handled linebackers at A&M.
A&M assistant Kirk Doll, who oversees tight ends and is the special teams coordinator, has worked with linebackers at A&M (1989-93), LSU, Notre Dame and with the Denver Broncos.
DeRuyter was en route to College Station on Thursday and plans to meet with recruits and staff Friday, said a school official.
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